Lenagan takes advice on board in Oxford United manager search

OXFORD United’s board are consulting with trusted figures outside of the club to assist their hunt for a new manager.

It is almost six weeks since Chris Wilder left, and the end of the process may still be some way off after club owner Ian Lenagan reiterated it would not be rushed.

The U’s chairman is in charge of the search, supported by his sons Simon and Adrian, who are directors.

But they are also tapping a list of unnamed contacts from further afield, who have had an influence on building a shortlist of targets beyond the candidates who applied directly.

“Just as there was when the panel with Chris Wilder was put together, there will be people who are on the board, plus experienced other people who can help advise us,” Lenagan said.

“We had a proactive list in the back of our mind and gradually built up by the people who help us from a football viewpoint.

“Because of our software businesses and the connections on the Football League board and the Premier League we got quite an entree to a number of people whose opinions we trust.

“It’s through those the names have been put together.”

Recruiting a sporting director remains an option under consideration, although there are still multiple combinations.

Lenagan said: “It’s more important to get the right person in to have the right vision across the club (whether it’s) the combination of either a part-time sporting director and a head coach, or a manager and full-time sporting director.”